Breadcrumb

Bring It On

Director:

Peyton Reed

Writer:

Jessica Bendinger

Universal Pictures; 110 minutes; PG-13

Release:

9/00

Cast:

Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union, Eliza Dushku

Bring It On is a cheerleading race war crossed with romantic teen comedy. Does it have enough smarts to pull it off? Yes. Kirsten Dunst stars as Torrance Shipman, captain of a nationally acclaimed cheerleading squad. Like the heroines in most teen comedies, Torrance is mostly concerned with leaving the popular jock for the overlooked alternative heartthrob (Jesse Bradford). Things change when she learns that her predecessor stole their award-winning choreographies from a black hip-hop cheerleading team they must face in national finals.

Director Peyton Reed fine tunes the film between knowing and earnest. Dunst uses her skills to the utmost, unifying disparate plots and gamely prancing about in the skimpy outfits required by any cheerleader movie. Bring It On is peppy fare whose appeal can transcend the teen crowd.